The Village | Issue OneWhen the Arts Go Silent: Responding to the Suspension of NEA Funding
2 min read
It didn’t make many headlines—but it should have. The current administration has suspended funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a move that threatens thousands of artists, educators, and community programs across the country.
This isn’t just a budget cut—it’s a cultural gut punch.
From youth programs to independent publishers, NEA support has long been a lifeline. Without it, the communities that already struggle for creative resources will feel the weight the hardest. And when the arts are silenced, so are the stories that help us process pain, celebrate joy, and dream beyond our circumstances.
So what can we do?
🖤 Support Local
Donate directly to independent artists, theaters, writers’ collectives, and community-based programs.
Here are a few places to start:
- Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
- Fractured Atlas – Fiscal Sponsor Directory
- Local Arts Agencies Directory (by Americans for the Arts)
🖤 Get Loud
Contact your elected officials and tell them: the arts matter.
Use these tools to make your voice heard:
🖤 Host & Share
Organize events or amplify creatives in your community. Whether it’s a pop-up, livestream, or zine drop—use your platform:
- How to Host a Virtual Open Mic (Poets & Writers)
- Zine Libraries + Resources
- Create a free event with Eventbrite
🖤 Mutual Aid for Creatives
Mutual aid works. Artists shouldn’t have to suffer in silence.
- Mutual Aid Hub – Find or Start a Network
- Artist Relief Funds (ongoing list by Creative Capital)
- BIPOC Artist Grants Directory
The arts are not a luxury. They are a necessity. They document our existence, resist erasure, and remind us who we are. In a moment where silence is being legislated, let’s make noise.
This is your village. Let’s protect its storytellers.
